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Dr. Naomi Grunhaus is Associate Professor of Jewish Studies at Stern College for Women, where since 1997 she has devoted herself to teaching Tanach and methodology of biblical interpretation. She is also Associate Faculty at the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies. In addition to her book The Challenge of Received Tradition: Dilemmas of Interpretation in Radak’s Biblical Commentaries, published by Oxford University Press in 2013, Dr. Grunhaus has also authored scholarly articles, book reviews, and encyclopedia entries. She is a frequent presenter at scholarly conferences in the U.S. and abroad, with her current research focusing on biblical interpretation in Hebrew linguistic works. Dr. Grunhaus received her PhD in Jewish Studies from New York University, MA and MS degrees from New York University, a BS from Brooklyn College, and a Hebrew Teacher’s Diploma from Michlalah, Jerusalem College for Women. Sample Titles “Why Good Things Happen to Bad People: Reflections on Divine Justice in Jewish Tradition” “‘Go Take Yourself a Wife of Harlotry’ (Hosea 1:2): The Symbolism of Prophetic Actions” “613 Mitzvot: Why So Many?” “Lessons for Rosh Hashanah from Sefer Nehemiah” “Lessons for Succot from Sefer Nehemiah” “A Uniquely Jewish Response to Tyranny: Lessons from the Chashmonaim” “Go SLOW, FAST well: Achieving the Purpose of a Fast Day” “Klal Yisrael’s Role in Shaping its Destiny: Lessons from Bayit Sheini” “Taking Interest from a Non-Jew” “On the Verification of Prophecy: The Relevance of Nevuah le-Tovah“ “Zeal and Zealotry in the Bible and Midrash” “She-ar Yashuv, Immanuel, and Maher Shalal Chash Baz: The Significance of Children’s Names in Sefer Yeshayahu” “Innovative or Conservative Leadership during Bayit Sheini: The Evidence from Sefer Nehemiah.” “Miracles and Divine Providence in Ramban’s Thought” “Methodological Considerations in Parshanut: When Peshat Contradicts the Halakhah.” “Perush ha-Meyuhas: Mistaken Attribution in Medieval Commentaries” “Conventional and Contemporary Challenges in Biblical Interpretation” “Keri U’Ketiv: Indigenous and Purposeful or Indicative of a Disputed Text?” “Tikkunei Soferim: Theory and Practice” “Impact of Ta’amei ha-Miqra on...

Dr. Jeffrey S. Gurock is the Libby M. Klaperman Professor of Jewish History at Yeshiva University. He is the author or editor of 14 books, including “Orthodox Jews in America,” “Judaism’s Encounter With American Sports,” and “American Jewish Orthodoxy in Historical Perspective.” His “A Modern Heretic and a Traditional Community: Mordecai M. Kaplan, Orthodoxy and American Judaism” (Columbia University Press, 1997) was awarded the bi-annual Saul Viener Prize from the American Jewish Historical Society for the best book written in that field. Dr. Gurock is chair of the Academic Council of the American Jewish Historical Society and served from 1982 to 2002 as associate editor of “American Jewish History,” the leading academic journal in that field. Sample Titles American Judaism’s Contemporary Scoreboard From Ancient Face-Offs through Medieval Time-Outs: Jewish History and the Culture of Sports Jewish Harlem: Past and Present Reaching American Jewry’s Millennial Generation American Orthodoxy’s Era of Non-Observance How Frum Was Rabbi Jacob Joseph’s Court? A Modern Heretic and a Traditional Community An American Jewish Conspiracy Theory: Dr. Bernard Revel, Yeshiva and the Jewish Theological Seminary (A Text Study Workshop) The Religious Values of American Jews: Historically Reconsidered (A Text Study Workshop) The Voices of Immigrant Jewish Masses (A Text Study...

Rabbi Lawrence Hajioff serves on the Judaic studies faculty of Stern College for Women. Originally from London, England, Rabbi Hajioff graduated with honors in political science from Manchester University. After working for two years for MTV in news production, and winning the national competition ‘Jewish Stand-Up Comedian’ of the Year, Rabbi Hajioff traveled to study in Israel and then Monsey to receive his rabbinical smicha ordination from Yeshiva Ohr Somayach. Rabbi Hajioff has worked extensively with young Jewish drug addicts, and in 2004 received an award from the Town of Ramapo for his work on their behalf. In 2005 Rabbi Hajioff joined the faculty of Stern College for Women at Yeshiva University. In 2006 he received the “Professor of the Year” award in Judaic Studies from the senior year students at Stern. Rabbi Hajioff also works for Birthright Israel in New York as their official Rabbi and educational director. He has been instrumental in implementing programs for Birthright Israel in Manhattan such as the very successful adult bar and bat mitzvah program which some four hundred people have completed so far. He also leads trips to Israel and Poland three times annually for some three hundred participants. Rabbi Hajioff also teaches on the Mechina Introductory Judaic studies program at Stern College. This program includes Shabbatonim on and off campus, and a summer learning program in Israel at the YU campus. He teaches introductory Judaic studies courses, which cover all the foundations of Jewish thought, as well as a lower intermediate level course covering all the Jewish holidays, and an intermediate level course on the Sabbath. He has developed a new course introducing kabbalistic ideas in Jewish thought. Sample Titles The Five Levels of Pleasure Four Misconceptions Jews Have About Judaism Children – Planting and Building; Bringing up Healthy Children in Today’s Technological World. Finding Inspiration in a Hectic World Do Jews Believe in G-d War – What is it Good For? Israel – Whose Land Is It Anyway? Health...

Mr. Charlie Harary, Esq. is a Clinical Professor of Management and Entrepreneurship and an Associate Entrepreneur in Residence at the Syms School of Business in Yeshiva University. In addition, Mr. Harary is the CEO of H3 Capital LLC, a private equity company based in New York. Prior to H3 Capital, Mr. Harary was the First Vice President of Residential Operations and Legal Counsel of RXR Realty, a multi-billion dollar Real Estate Company based in New York. Prior to RXR, Mr. Harary was an associate in Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison and Davis Polk & Wardwell. He received his J.D. from Columbia Law School where he was awarded the James Kent Scholar and the Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar. Mr. Harary is a prolific speaker who has traveled all over the country and abroad speaking for organizations, schools, universities and institutions on a variety of topics and to audiences of various sizes and affiliations. He has created dozens of videos that have received worldwide attention reaching hundreds of thousands of people in over 15 countries. Mr. Harary is also a Senior Lecturer for the Orthodox Union, Aish Hatorah and NCSY. In addition, he is an active community leader. He is the founder and president of Milvado Inc., an organization that develops innovative methods to teach spirituality in relevant and modern ways. He is a member of the Executive Board of the OU as well as the Founding Chairman of its Young Leadership Cabinet. He is also a member of the Conference of Young Jewish Presidents. Sample Titles From Vision to Execution: How to Turn Your Idea into a Reality The Traits of Great Jewish Leaders Tapping into your Inner Greatness Moses and the Making of a Great Leader How to Build and Excite A Board and Lay Leadership Creating Successful Companies Principles of Entrepreneurship Social Entrepreneurship How to Have Great Relationships The Secret to Happiness The Building Blocks of Godliness in the First Four Stories of Genesis The Seven Shepards...

Dr. Meredith Hawkins is associate professor of medicine in the diabetes research and training center at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University. Her current research interests include the regulation of hepatic glucose production by hyperglycemia per se in type 2 diabetes mellitus, and the effects of nutrient excess on metabolic features of the insulin resistance syndrome. Dr. Hawkins has a tremendous interest to restrain the burgeoning epidemic of obesity and diabetes in the developing world. During the last ten years she has worked with key institutions in Uganda, Rwanda and India, to collaborate toward this vision. Dr. Hawkins earned her M.D. degree cum laude from the University of Toronto and a Master of Science in clinical research methods cum laude from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She is associate editor of the “American Journal of Physiology,” and secretary treasurer of the American Federation of Medical Research. Dr. Hawkins’ current research interests include the effects of nutrient excess on insulin resistance, nutritional regulation of adipose tissue macrophages, and the regulation of hepatic glucose production by hyperglycemia per se in diabetes mellitus. Dr. Hawkins is a Beeson Scholar of the American Federation of Aging Research, and has received research grants from the National Institutes of Health, the American Diabetes Association, the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation International and the Diabetes Action Foundation International. She is the recipient of numerous honors and awards, including the Outstanding Clinical Associate Physician Award from the National Institutes of Health and the Junior Physician Scientist Award from the American Federation of Medical Research. She was recently awarded the Novartis Young Investigator award in Diabetes Research, an international prize given to the most outstanding clinical investigator under the age of 45 who is conducting diabetes or obesity research. Sample Titles Global Diabetes: Tackling the Twenty-First Century...

Rabbi Dr. Richard Hidary is an assistant professor of Judaic studies at Yeshiva University, Stern College for Women where he teaches courses in Bible, Second Temple Jewish history, Dead Sea Scrolls, Talmud, Midrash, and Jewish ethics. He received his PhD from NYU where he was awarded a McCracken Fellowship and was also a graduate fellow in Jewish Law and Interdisciplinary Studies at Cardozo Law School. His forthcoming book, Dispute for the Sake of Heaven: Legal Pluralism in the Talmud, has been published in the Brown Judaic Studies series. He has articles appearing in AJS Review and Dine Israel and he has written entries for Encyclopedia Judaica and Encyclopedia of the Bible and Its Reception. He is also a rabbinics reviewer for The Lost Bible Project: The Library of Israel in Late Antiquity to be published by JPS and a contributor to the forthcoming New Oxford Annotated Translation of the Mishnah. Rabbi Hidary is developing a teachers guides for teaching Tanakh in Yeshiva High Schools. He is also an assistant rabbi at Sephardic Synagogue in Brooklyn and director of Merkaz Moreshet Yisrael. Sample Titles A History of the Afterlife in Jewish Thought 3 Conceptions of Sin, 3 Paths fo Atonement Second Temple Sectarianism and the Rabbis: How the Dead Sea Scrolls Shed Light on the Talmud Law and Literature in the Talmud Bavli: The Halakhah and Aggadah of Tsedaka Halakhic Pluralism vs. Communal Unity: How the Talmud Deals with...

Rabbi David Hirsch is a rosh yeshiva and holds the Eva, Morris and Jack K. Rubin Memorial Chair in Rabbinics at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary of Yeshiva University. Rabbi Hirsch is a 1990 graduate of Yeshiva College, where he majored in computer science. Upon graduation, Rabbi Hirsch received the Rothman Award for Excellence in Talmud. He earned his MS degree in Jewish education from the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration in 1993. That same year, he was ordained at RIETS and was named a fellow of the Gruss Kollel Elyon. Sample Titles Life Threatening Situations on Shabbos Dina de-Malchuta Dina Gambling in Jewish Law Faith of the Patriarchs Fast Days in Jewish Thought Rabbi Soloveitchik’s Understanding of Continuity in Sefiras Haomer A Torah Perspective on the BP Oil...

Dr. Shalom Holtz is an assistant professor of Bible at Yeshiva University, hired as part of the University’s efforts to enhance and expand its academic Jewish studies programs. A native New Yorker, Dr. Holtz holds a bachelor’s degree (summa cum laude) from Harvard University (1999) and a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania (2006), both in Near Eastern languages and civilizations. Dr. Holtz’s research interests include the relationship between ancient Mesopotamian civilization and Jewish civilization. He has published articles and lectured at academic conferences on this subject. Prior to his appointment at Yeshiva, he served as a member of the faculty at the Drisha Institute in Manhattan. Sample Titles The Goring Ox and the Message of Biblical Law Floods, Fertility and Family: The Mesopotamian Background of the Noah Story Sennacherib vs. Hezekiah: An Episode in Biblical History 9 Av, 586 BCE The Biblical Prophets in the Synagogue (The...

Rabbi David Horwitz is a rosh yeshiva and the Rabbi Dovid Lifshitz Professor of Talmud at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary of Yeshiva University. He also is an instructor of Jewish history and Jewish philosophy at Yeshiva College and teaches an advanced shiur (lecture) for the Yeshiva Program/Mazer School of Talmudic Studies. In 1997, Rabbi Horwitz received Yeshiva’s 13th Annual Moshe and Madelaine Baumel Judaic Faculty Incentive Award, which honors outstanding Jewish studies educators at the University and RIETS. Rabbi Horwitz is an alumnus of Yeshiva University High School for Boys (where he won the National Bible Contest, Chidon Hatanach), Yeshiva College, Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies, and received his semikha (rabbinic ordination) from RIETS, where he was a fellow of the Gruss Kollel Elyon. Sample Titles Issues in Sefiras HaOmer Inyanei Pesach Halachic Issues in Japan Sefirat HaOmer – Is Verbalization Necessary? Halakha and the Scientific Revolution Rav Horowitz Sefer Hamadda Human Effort and Determinism in Ralbag Memories of the Rav Torah Umadda Rambam vs The Chachmei Ashkenaz on the Haggadah – some surprising differences An Argument of Rav and Shmuel – Matchil B’Gnut U’Lsayem B’Shevach – Spiritual Redemption and Talmud Torah The Corporate Completeness of Kelal...

Richard M. Joel became Yeshiva University’s fourth president on September 21, 2003, and was named Bravmann Family University Professor in April 2010. Over the past 10 years, Joel has built upon the illustrious tradition of this storied institution by placing a renewed emphasis on the student experience, academic excellence, Torah scholarship and communal involvement. With these advancements, and guided by the distinctive belief in education as a process of “ennobling and enabling” young women and men to build whole and meaningful lives, Yeshiva has emerged as North America’s Torah-informed university. Further, with his guidance, Yeshiva University has expanded its focus far beyond the walls of the university, whether through professional and rabbinic placement globally or service learning missions worldwide. With his characteristic charm and wit, Joel can often be spotted around Yeshiva’s campuses engaging with students and learning about them; one of his great pleasures at Yeshiva is in serving on its faculty and teaching his weekly course. Following his lead, the university has further developed a culture of warmth. Joel is renowned as a charismatic leader and a captivating orator, and has traveled globally to dialogue with audiences on values-driven education, communal leadership, and Jewish identity. Just as Yeshiva University has embraced its role as the flagship institution of American Modern Orthodoxy, Joel has in many ways become more than a university president but a true spokesperson for the Jewish people. Before taking the helm at Yeshiva, President Joel earned his reputation as a dynamic force with young people as president and international director of Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life. There, he facilitated an extraordinary renaissance of Jewish life on campuses through building numerous new facilities, partnering in the creation of Birthright Israel, and using engagement and empowerment models to reach Jewish youth. Growing up in Bronx, NY, Joel earned his B.A. and J.D. from New York University where he was a Root-Tilden Scholar; he has received honorary doctorates from Boston Hebrew College and Gratz College. He also served as assistant...